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How often do you upgrade your laptop?

  • Every year (or as soon as an upgrade becomes available)

    Votes: 2 2.0%
  • > 1 yr but <= 3 years (or trying to stay within AC/AC+)

    Votes: 9 9.2%
  • > 3 years

    Votes: 37 37.8%
  • Whenever I notice the machine it too slow to do my work

    Votes: 27 27.6%
  • Whenever the machine breaks

    Votes: 12 12.2%
  • Other

    Votes: 11 11.2%

  • Total voters
    98

x-evil-x

macrumors 603
Jul 13, 2008
5,576
3,234
id imagine most people here are 4-7 years. I know people getting new windows laptops every few years. One of my friends has 5 crappy pc laptops he just keeps getting a new one ever few years for some reason.
 

TGM85

macrumors 6502
Aug 29, 2005
268
754
I used to upgrade rather frequently (2-3 years), but I've been using a 2015 MBP for some years now. If the 2016 and later MBP design hadn't been as flawed as it is, I might already have upgraded, but I've decided to wait this cycle out. I don't feel like dealing with nothing but 4 USB C ports, a keyboard that seems to break easily, display issues, gimmicky touch bar, etc.

The 2015 MBP is more than adequate for my current needs, so I'll keep it for a while longer. Rumors indicate the MBP line will probably be redesigned again late 2019 or sometime in 2020. I'll wait and see if Apple comes to their senses like they did with the recent Mac Pro redesign.
 

ghanwani

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 8, 2008
4,525
5,642
Normally I would be in the "till it's too slow" category, but the 2nd gen butterfly in my current machine is making me think of upgrading sooner. Kinda sad when one is forced to upgrade a premium machine because of a crappy design, and not because one wants/needs to.
 

x-evil-x

macrumors 603
Jul 13, 2008
5,576
3,234
Normally I would be in the "till it's too slow" category, but the 2nd gen butterfly in my current machine is making me think of upgrading sooner. Kinda sad when one is forced to upgrade a premium machine because of a crappy design, and not because one wants/needs to.
why dont you get it fixed for free?
 

ghanwani

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 8, 2008
4,525
5,642
why dont you get it fixed for free?

It's not broken, just annoyingly noisy when typing esp when taking notes during a meeting. So I don't think they would be willing to change it. The machine is still under AppleCare for a year.
 

x-evil-x

macrumors 603
Jul 13, 2008
5,576
3,234
It's not broken, just annoyingly noisy when typing esp when taking notes during a meeting. So I don't think they would be willing to change it. The machine is still under AppleCare for a year.
ahh. i never had a problem with the sound. the 2019 is quieter than my 2016. do other people tell you its loud at work or do you just not like it because you think its too loud?
 

ghanwani

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 8, 2008
4,525
5,642
ahh. i never had a problem with the sound. the 2019 is quieter than my 2016. do other people tell you its loud at work or do you just not like it because you think its too loud?

I get complaints. I have to go on mute when typing, so it makes note taking very hard, especially when I'm actively participating in the meeting.
 

x-evil-x

macrumors 603
Jul 13, 2008
5,576
3,234
I get complaints. I have to go on mute when typing, so it makes note taking very hard, especially when I'm actively participating in the meeting.
well thats a first. does nobody have any macs at your work?
i really dont see how the newer keyboards are any louder than the magic keyboard. i use both daily.
 

ghanwani

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 8, 2008
4,525
5,642
well thats a first. does nobody have any macs at your work?
i really dont see how the newer keyboards are any louder than the magic keyboard. i use both daily.

It's very uncommon because they only give out Windows machines. This is my personal machine.

What gen of butterfly do you have?

I think (not sure) -- Gen 3/3+ are quiet, Gen 2 is noisy, Gen 1 is noisy and has the worst feel.
 

x-evil-x

macrumors 603
Jul 13, 2008
5,576
3,234
It's very uncommon because they only give out Windows machines. This is my personal machine.

What gen of butterfly do you have?

I think (not sure) -- Gen 3/3+ are quiet, Gen 2 is noisy, Gen 1 is noisy and has the worst feel.
ive had the 2016 machine replaced the keyboard after 2-3 years with the 2017 keyboard and now have the 2019. They all sound similar the 2019 is slightly quieter. i dont type hard i got used to the keyboard quickly and dont hit the keys as hard as my old machines. I never thought a company would have an issue with sound typing on these things its not really any louder than the magic keyboard just a different sound. id just tell them to eat it. They are making you self conscious about nothing.
 

leman

macrumors Core
Oct 14, 2008
19,153
18,932
When it makes sense. Which I usually define by a new machine being 20% or more faster in the tasks I need to do.
 

Stephen.R

Suspended
Nov 2, 2018
4,356
4,746
Thailand
It's been a combination of when funds/breakage/slowness for me really.

2007 MBP17 > Late 2011 MBP17 > 2018 MBP15 + 2018 Mac mini.

The 2011 machine was definitely slower than a new machine, but it was usable still. Ultimately it was repeated failures of fans that meant it wasn't reliable for work any more (I literally have extra spares in my drawer from the last time, and now I need to order a replacement battery for it), combined with a much better financial situation that meant I (or my company really) could practically upgrade to a more modern workstation.

As the 2018 MBP is a stock base model (it was urgent so had to take what they had on the shelf) it possibly has a shorter usable life for me, but I also don't use it all the time - it's literally used in case of faults with the Mini, or if I go work away from my home office (which is rare, and usually not on stuff that needs the extra memory/CPU power of a desktop).

I'm more interested in what people do with their old ones (assuming it isn't replaced because of catastrophic failure)? My 2007 went to my parents (who still use it), my 2011 now runs as an iTunes server, and will soon be a security camera server too.
 

Mitthrawnuruodo

Moderator emeritus
Mar 10, 2004
14,413
1,041
Bergen, Norway
I've always upgraded when needed, because the old machine is getting too slow (which is highly subjective).

For a long time that resulted in a 3 year upgrade Cycle:

1994: Mac Performa 630CD*
1997: PowerMac 7500*
2000: PowerBook G3 FW (Pismo)
2003: iBook G4
2006: MacBook
2009: Mac mini server*

Then in 2010 that ended. First I got the original iPad (from the UK, since they didn't release it in Norway at first), with an idea to supplement and maybe replace the MacBook, but later that year the MacBook died and I didn't think the iPad was a proper laptop replacement (still don't), so I got an 11" MacBook Air, which is still my main Mac.

I've had a few work-Macs after this, the 12" rMB, another 11" MacBook Air, and the late 2013 rMBP I'm typing this on.

Now that 11" Air is way overdue for an upgrade, but I just cannot decide between the slightly anemic/overpriced 2018 MacBook Air or the just barely more expensive 2019 13" MBP, so I'm squeezing just a bit more out of the poor old Air (and has taken my work Mac home for the Summer vacation).

* Not laptops, I know...
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,419
43,308
I went from a 2012 MBP to a new laptop in 2019 - that seems to be a healthy 6 years.
 

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
28,247
12,390
My first MacBook Pro was a 2010.
It still boots and runs fine (actually better-than-new since I installed an SSD into it).

When the 2016 models were introduced, I went and took a look at them (alongside the still-available 2015 MBPro retina). I bought... the 2015 model instead.

I dislike the new keyboards and the continuing reports of reliability issues will dissuade me from buying another one any time soon.

I'd like to get 7, 8, 9, 10 years out of the 2015 model.

By 2026, I may not even need a laptop any more (if I'm still alive by then)!
 
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TechRunner

macrumors 65816
Oct 28, 2016
1,254
2,151
SW Florida, US
I typically buy towards the base model end of the spectrum, so my tendency is to upgrade about every four years. It will be four years for my base model 2015 13" MBA in September...
 

roboclint

macrumors member
Aug 24, 2011
49
16
I just bought a replacement for my 2009 MBP. I’ve upgraded it to an ssd, 8 gb ram and put in a new battery recently so it actually doesn’t run THAT bad. For a while I rarely used it because I had a 2011 iMac, but it died and I had to go back to it. My “new” one is a 2015 MBP and I’m REALLY looking forward to it.
 

ghanwani

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 8, 2008
4,525
5,642
These are interesting results. I thought there would be more people upgrading within 3 years, but we have only 10% voting for that option.
 

MacRazySwe

macrumors 65816
Aug 7, 2007
1,197
1,072
Trying to stick to 2-3 years, makes it easiest to recoup most of the original purchase price while still getting a (somewhat) meaningful upgrade.

I’m now using the 2018 MBA and won’t upgrade until the MBA goes quad core, or until we receive a new design MBP without Touch Bar.
 
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